"MARCONI" at Santa Cruz de Tenerife today

 "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" seen here brand new at speed, is due to reach Tenerife at 3 pm today, the ship reached with extreme comfort yesterday 26 knots using 90% of her total power. During the Tenerife call the ship is bunkering getting ready for her voyage to Cape Town which will take just over 8 days, in the meantime passengers will have three excursions available, Santa Cruz, the "Floresta de las Mercedez" and "Valle de Orotova"

"Santa Cruz de Tenerife" is situated off the northwestern coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, Santa Cruz is the Capital of the Canary Islands together with Las Palmas, it has a population of over 220.000 people, its economy rely mainly on tourism, trade and the seaport a very important mid Atlantic stopover for cruise ships and liners

                              view from the "Floresta de las Mercedez"

Valle de Orotova was the name given by Spanish "conquistadores" when they occupied the Island in the 15th century to an area that would became a very famous vineyard.

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" due at Tenerife today: 15.00
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Next Port of call: Cape Town
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Sailing time: 24.00
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Distance to Cape Town: 4420 nautical miles
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Average speed: 22 knots
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E.T.A. Cape Town: 9.9.2012 at 07.00
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Temperature today at Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 29 C
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"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" at sea

Passengers on board "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" enjoyed the first two full days at sea, a great opportunity to get acquainted with the plenty facilities on board ship and of course socialize with each other, many families are travelling together to start a complete different life in Australia, what an opportunity to share memories back home somehow so distante now

             Images above taken from a mid sixties Lloyd Triestino brochure

 The cinema is the only room shared by both first and tourist class passengers, the balconies can accommodate about 150 first class and the ground flour a formidable room with space for over 700 tourist class passengers.

Postcard of the amazing "MARCONI" at sea, late sixties, official Lloyd Triestino picture

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" visited last port in the MED today

 "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" visited Malta today, the last port in the MED before heading to Cape Town via Tenerife, where the ship will make a technical call, MARCONI was berthed at 8 am and departed on time 15.00

Shore excursions available today were, visit of VALETTA the capital city of the republic of Malta a country situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, its strategic position has motivated a succession of powers since the Phoenicians to the British from whom MALTA gain its independence in 1964, the country became a Republic 10 years later, today MALTA is renowned worldwide as a tourist destination.

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" arrived Malta 08.00
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The ship departed for Tenerife: 15.00
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E.T.A. Tenerife : 31.8.2012 / 15.00
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Distance : 1709 nm
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Average speed : 22.75 knots
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Temperature today at Malta : 34 C
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"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" at Messina today

 "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" will dock at Messina at 10 am this morning for the final leg of its Italian ports of call for embarkation of Italian passengers travelling mainly to Australia.Italians migrated down under seeking for a better life as the labour in Italy was cheap especially in the agriculture industry, during the late 50's Australia's Snowy River Hydro-Electric scheme attracted tens of thousands of workers from overseas, looking for high pay salaries, freedoms available and the surety of employment in the post-war period

Excursions available today for the passengers are the city of Messina and Taormina. Messina, photo above, is the third largest city on the island of Sicily with a population of about 230.000 people, its economical resources are apart from tourism, agriculture, mainly cultivation of citrines and its port with several shipyards.

Taormina is situated in the east coast of Sicily in the Province of Messina, it's main tourist attractions are "Isola Bella" a natural reserve and the popular resort of Giardini Nachos

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" departs Messina for Malta at 23.00
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E.T.A. Malta : 08.00 tomorrow
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Distance : 175 nm
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Average speed : 21.25 knots
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Temperature today at Messina : 33 C
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"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" at Naples today

 "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" will be docked in Naples just before 10am, the ship will stay until 23.00, more passengers will embark mainly for Australia

 NAPOLI is the capital of the province of CAMPANIA and the third largest city in Italy, after Rome and Milan, the historic city centre is the largest in Europe and is listed as a World Heritage Centre

One of the most famous Italian tenors of all time was born in Naples in 1873, ENRICO CARUSO sang at the major opera houses of Europe, North and South America, his career span for over 25 years and most of his work is today immortalized on digital downloads and CD's, he died with just 48 years of age

The city of NAPOLI and POMPEI are the two shore excursions available today for the GUGLIELMO MARCONI passengers. POMPEI is one of the most popular attractions in Italy, this Roman town was partially buried after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the town was lost for nearly 1700 years before being rediscovered in 1748, today also a UNESCO World Heritage Centre with an average of over 2 million visitors per year.

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" departs Napoli for Messina at 23.00
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Temperature today at Napoli : 30
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Distance to Messina : 171 nm
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E.T.A. Messina : 09.00 tomorrow
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Average speed : 19.50 Knots

GUGLIELMO MARCONI "INTORNO AL MONDO" departs Genova today

Back in 1973 exactly on this day LLOYD TRIESTINO's "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" departed Genoa for a voyage around the World, we are going to reproduce this epic sea adventure on this blog on daily basis, following the ship at sea and on every port of call, we are due back in Genoa on the 7th of November.... step aboard and relive one of the most spectacular liner voyages, a trip "INTORNO AL MONDO"

 Genova is the capital of LIGURIA a North-Western coastal region of Italy famous for its beaches, picturesque towns and of course gastronomy. Genova's main tourist attractions are the Gallery of Palazzo's Bianco and Rosso, the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola and the fabulous Museum of Oriental arts with its treasures collected over the centuries by Italian navigators and explorers, two of the most famous born in Genoa, CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, born 1451 and GIOVANNI CABOTO born 1450, who sailed from England under the commission of Henry VII, for many the first European since the Vikings to explore North America. Genova was inscribed at the UNESCO in 2006 and was European Capital of Culture in 2004

The Port of Genova is the busiest in Italy by cargo tonnage and one of the most important in the MED

 DEEP PURPLE played at the Palazzo dello Sport in 1973, one of the most famous rock bands of the 70's

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" departs Genova today at 18.00
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Destination : NAPOLI
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Distance : 334 nm (nautical miles)
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E.T.A. : 10.00 tomorrow
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Average speed : 22 knots
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"GUGLIELMO MARCONI's " voyage round the World starts this saturday

This saturday we are going to relive "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" trip around the World in 1973 when LLOYD TRIESTINO was promoting and billing these voyages as "INTORNO AL MONDO" in order to secure more passengers using the express liners on their Italy/Australia route, the ships started in 1963 using the Suez Canal both ways, during these called "AROUND THE WORLD" trips, the sisters were sailing from Europe to Australia via Cape Town and come back home through the Pacific Ocean, Panama canal and Caribbean. The ships departed from Genova, Napoli and Messina calling at Malta/Tenerife/Capetown/Fremantle/Adelaide/Melbourne/Hobart/Sydney/Auckland/Noumea/Suva/Tahiti/Acapulco/Balboa/Cristobal/Curacao/Lisboa/Malaga/Malta/Piraeus/Messina/Napoli and finally Genova. "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" will sail over 31.000 nautical miles and will be back in Italy on the 7th of November. Join the adventure and embark with us.

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" built for the Australian immigrant route

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" and her sister were conceived in the late 50's for the immigrant service to Australia, they came both into service in 1963, AUSTRALIA was one of the prime destinations for people wanting to start a new life overseas, the main source of immigration to the country was from Europe particulary from Great Britain followed by Italy and Greece. People in the 50' and 60's were looking to get away from a devastated Europe as a result of World War II, a war that got really close to Australia, as a result its small population of about 10 million people realized the need for the country to blend and grow quickly. Sydney was the main destination, the state capital of New South Wales today the most populated city in Australia with over 4.5 million people. The LLOYD TRIESTINO twins visited for many years Australia on monthly basis so they were associated with the lives of hundreds of thousands of passengers, families seeking a new life. Photos above, MARCONI and GALILEO at Sydney and the city today (taken from the internet)

GUGLIELMO MARCONI and GALILEO GALILEI, first years in service

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" and "GALILEO GALILEI" were very successful ships during their first 6/7 years on the Italy to Australian service their reputation grown worldwide, despite competition from other European operators particulary the British, but still they were running virtually full with their voyages being advertised all over Europe with special focus on the UK passengers, but troubled years were soon to come for the last liners on regular service and of course the sisters were no exception to the rule, decline in passenger numbers and oil crisis were soon to come, this will be a subject for future posts, for now let's enjoy the amazing photos above and remember how gorgeous these two ships were and keep them alive, the aim of this blog, as they were and still are so many times forgotten by Maritime Historians, who just play safe with accounts of more imposing and better known ships

"GALILEO GALILEI" inside the ship

On board GALILEO GALILEI, first class restaurant and cabin, tourist class cabin and lounge, both ships were tailored for immigrant service, but they were very comfortable and functional, designed to spend long days at sea. Photos from my collection

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" first glimpse inside the ship

The wheelhouse on the bridge of GUGLIELMO MARCONI", photo copyright Rich Turnwald, a complete brochure during the ITALIA LINE service will be coming here later, for the moment a few glimpses of the interiors of both MARCONI and her sister GALILEO GALILEI, all photos from my collection otherwise stated.

                                        Marconi's beautiful funnel at the Sun Deck

                                         streamlined bow, view from the bridge, Panama Canal

                                         entrance to the first class lounge

                                         first class restaurant

                                        tourist class restaurant